How often should you wash your car? (UK)

There’s ‘looks clean’ and there’s ‘protect the paint’. A simple routine can do both.

A realistic schedule

  • Every 2–4 weeks: normal use, mild weather.
  • Weekly/fortnightly in winter: salt + grime build up fast.
  • After long motorway trips: bug splatter and film can bake on.

When to wash sooner

  • Bird mess or tree sap (remove quickly).
  • Heavy road salt periods.
  • After off-road / muddy conditions (don’t let grit sit in seams).

Use the site’s local verdict to grab a good window — you’ll spend less time fighting streaks and re-wetting.

More articles